StepmaniaX - Stepmania for XBox - v11

http://xport.xbox-scene.com
http://www.stepmania.com/stepmania/


What's New :

 - JPEG files work now

 - Changing screens not randomly crash anymore.
   This was caused by an out-of-memory error because, by default, the current
   screen objects are not freed before loading the new screen objects when
   backing out.  I'm not sure why this is not enabled by default, and why there 
   is no way to configure it in the menus, but it may be because it's buggy.  
   I guess we'll soon find out. :)

 - Characters now work.  If you want to use Characters, download the following
   file and put it in your "PACKAGES" directory:

     http://www.stepmania.com/download.php?file=downloads/SM3.9_Characters_DancePC.smzip

   That file contains a set of "bones" that is required for some older character
   sets to work. 

 - Added controls for menu navigation on all other games types (including Pump)
   If you already switched to Pump mode and cannot control the menus anymore,
   then delete the e:\saves\stepmaniax\keymaps.ini file.
   You will have to configure the input to your liking on the Options screen.

Stella, Gnuboy, SMSPlus, FCEUltra, HUGO, NeoPop, DGen, Bochs, HUGO-CD,
FMSXBox, Bliss, WinSTon, Gens, Z26X, StepmaniaX, PCSXBox, XBoyAdvance,
DOSXBox, AtariXLBox, MirrorMagicX, KoboX, MaelstromX, MarblesX, Vice64X,
Vice20X, VicePETX, KegsX, XPired, AdamX, WonderSwanX, BeatsOfRageX,
PowermangaX, LynxBox, BlueMSXBox, GladiatorX, AmphetamineX, StarfighterX,
PachiX, BlobWarsX, OdysseyX, ArnoldX, X68000X, WinUAEX, MekaX,
MednafenX-NES, MednafenX-PCE, MednafenX-Lynx
what's next?

Enjoy!


--------------------------------------------------------------

StepmaniaX - Stepmania for XBox - v10

http://xport.xbox-scene.com
http://www.stepmania.com/stepmania/


What's New :

 - Core updated to Stepmania 3.9 Final

 - SM-LAN support (see instructions below)

 - Better support for running from a DVD (see below)

 - Should be able to accommodate around 700-1000+ songs depending on how 
   large the stepfiles are and on how many extra themes you have installed.  
   I tested it with 700 average-sized songs and there was still enough space 
   for another few hundred.  I imagine this will be sufficient for 99% of the 
   people out there.  If you're part of that 1% with 239873298324 song files 
   and claim to like/play all of them, then pick up a 128MB XBox.


Important Notes
===============

There have been some miscellaneous updates since v5 and I can't
remember what those were or what version numbers they were, so
I've just jumped to v10 to avoid any confusion as to what's the
most recent version.

I started over from scratch with the 3.9 Final sources.  All of the
previous XBox-specific updates were already merged into the main codebase.
There were some new alterations that needed to be made to get the XBox
version working.  The full source should be in a separate package alongside
this distribution.  If someone on the official Stepmania team could update
the main codebase with these changes, that would be great.


Movies
------

Nope, sorry.  I had something almost working, but the additional code chewed
up about 15MB of memory which is better used for song storage.  Since it
was using up so much memory and it wasn't working anyway, I decided to just
abandon it.  


Themes/Characters/Announcers/Etc Packages
-----------------------------------------

Place your SMZIP files in the PACKAGES directory just like you would on
the PC version of Stepmania.



DVD Support
-----------

All of the files that Stepmania writes will now be written to one location:

E:\SAVES\STEPMANIAX

All the cache files, configuration data, scores, profiles, etc will be written
there.  This means that you should be able to just unpack this distribution
to a directory, add songs to the SONGS directory, burn it to an XBox-compatible
disc, and be good to go.  I have not tested it myself yet - I'm sure I'll hear
about it if it does not work.



SM-LAN Support
--------------

The first time you run StepmaniaX, it will create the following file:

E:\SAVES\STEPMANIAX\NETWORK.INI

To play over a network, edit this file in the following way:

To connect to someone else's Stepmania-LAN server use these settings:

[Network]
Enabled=1
Server=###.###.###.###

Where "###.###.###.###" is the IP address of your friend's Stepmania-LAN Server.

To have your XBox be a Stepmania-LAN server so that other people can connect to it,
use these settings:

[Network]
Enabled=1
Server=127.0.0.1

Setting the Server to 127.0.0.1 tells StepmaniaX that your XBox is to be the server.


To start the PC version of Stepmania so that it will act as a server, do this:

stepmania.exe --runserver=myservername --netip=127.0.0.1

To start the PC version of Stepmania so that it will act as client, do this:

stepmania.exe --netip=192.168.1.10

Where 192.168.1.10 is the IP address of the Stepmania server you wish to join.


For information on connecting to/from your XBox to another over the Internet, see here:

http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=267019

Scroll down to the "Q: I'm trying to netplay and I cannot connect to my friend's xbox. 
What's wrong?" question.  Or you can check out this link:

http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=415478&st=30#post-main-2798872

I recommend trying to establish a connection between the XBox version and the
Windows version running on your home PC.  Once you've got the particulars down
for a basic connection, you can try something more sophisticated like an Internet
connection.



Stella, Gnuboy, SMSPlus, FCEUltra, HUGO, NeoPop, DGen, Bochs, HUGO-CD,
FMSXBox, Bliss, WinSTon, Gens, Z26X, StepmaniaX, PCSXBox, XBoyAdvance,
DOSXBox, AtariXLBox, MirrorMagicX, KoboX, MaelstromX, MarblesX, Vice64X,
Vice20X, VicePETX, KegsX, XPired, AdamX, WonderSwanX, BeatsOfRageX,
PowermangaX, LynxBox, BlueMSXBox, GladiatorX, AmphetamineX, StarfighterX,
PachiX, BlobWarsX, OdysseyX, ArnoldX, X68000X, WinUAEX, MekaX,
MednafenX-NES, MednafenX-PCE, MednafenX-Lynx
what's next?

Enjoy!


--------------------------------------------------------------


StepmaniaX - Stepmania for XBox - v5

http://xport.xbox-scene.com

http://www.stepmania.com/stepmania/


What's New :

 - Option to turn Banner display on/off


This will solve the song skipping problem on the Music Wheel.  Some banners
take a long time to load and result in skipping on the music wheel.
Go to Options -> Graphics Options -> Show Banners and turn it off
to stop the music wheel from skipping.  


Stella, Gnuboy, SMSPlus, FCEUltra, HUGO, NeoPop, DGen, Bochs, HUGO-CD, 
FMSXBox, Bliss, WinSTon, Gens, Z26X, StepmaniaX, PCSXBox, XBoyAdvance, 
DOSXBox, AtariXLBox, MirrorMagicX, KoboX, MaelstromX, MarblesX, Vice64X,
Vice20X, VicePETX, KegsX, XPired, AdamX...
what's next?


Enjoy!


--------------------------------------------------------------


StepmaniaX - Stepmania for XBox - v4

http://xport.xbox-scene.com

http://www.stepmania.com/stepmania/


What's New :
 
 - Resizable Game Screen


Use the Left and Right thumbsticks to change the size/position 
of the game screen.


Stella, Gnuboy, SMSPlus, FCEUltra, HUGO, NeoPop, DGen, Bochs, HUGO-CD, 
FMSXBox, Bliss, WinSTon, Gens, Z26X, StepmaniaX, PCSXBox, XBoyAdvance, 
DOSXBox, AtariXLBox, MirrorMagicX, KoboX, MaelstromX, MarblesX, Vice64X,
Vice20X, VicePETX, KegsX, XPired...
what's next?


Enjoy!


--------------------------------------------------------------


StepmaniaX - Stepmania for XBox - v3

http://xport.xbox-scene.com

http://www.stepmania.com/stepmania/


What's New :
 
 - Using 3.9 Alpha 7 sources

 - Fixed PAL issue (I believe)

 - Scores are now saved correctly

 - JPEG support

 - Can run from DVD ( sortof - see notes below)


===============
Important Notes
===============

There are changes to the file contents of the directories.  You'll need to 
completely reinstall StepmaniaX using this v3 package.  (Delete the old
version first - don't just overwrite.)


================
Running from DVD
================

First off, the ideal way of running StepmaniaX is from the HD. Stepmania
loads lots of resource files (sounds, images) so if you are running from
DVD media, things will probably stutter/putt along.  However, if you 
are determined to run from DVD, then do the following:

Install Stepmania 3.9 Alpha 7 for Windows on your computer.  Set it up
and add all the songs you want to put on the DVD.  Run Stepmania for Windows
so that it reads all the songs and caches the information.  After doing so,
unpack the XBox package into a directory.  Copy the entire contents
of these Windows Stepmania directories over the XBox package :

Songs
Cache
Data

Basically you are replacing the XBox Songs, Cache, Data directories with
the Windows ones.  Now use an XBox ISO creation tool (e.g. SimpleXISO)
to create an XBox compatible ISO image of the XBox directory, burn to a disc
and you're done.

I've tested this method and it works for me.  However, the playback can be
choppy.  You might want to change the Options so that textures and sounds
are not freed from memory.  (Do this from the Options menu)




Stella, Gnuboy, SMSPlus, FCEUltra, HUGO, NeoPop, DGen, Bochs, HUGO-CD, 
FMSXBox, Bliss, WinSTon, Gens, Z26X, StepmaniaX, PCSXBox, XBoyAdvance, 
DOSXBox, AtariXLBox, MirrorMagicX, KoboX, MaelstromX, MarblesX, Vice64X,
Vice20X, VicePETX, KegsX...
what's next?


Enjoy!


--------------------------------------------------------------


StepmaniaX - Stepmania for XBox - v2

http://xport.xbox-scene.com

http://www.stepmania.com/stepmania/


Firstly, I'd like to thank the developers of Stepmania for making this program.
It is truly one of my favorite things to play.  They deserve all the credit
for this, especially since the most recent CVS source code has preliminary
support for XBox already.  I just took it the "last half-mile" or so.  

I would very much appreciate it if someone from the official Stepmania 
development crew would get in contact with me via :

http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?act=Msg&CODE=4&MID=29881

I'd like to merge the changes I made into the official CVS sources.  I know 
Stepmania.com has a BBS/forum system also, but I am not comfortable giving 
out my email address to gain access to it.

So, here's what many of you have been waiting for :


What's New:

 - StepMania 3.9 alpha 6 sources (Alpha 7 came out just as I was finishing
   this up....but I just wanted to get this one out since it was practically
   done already.  I'll get around to upgrading to alpha 7 soon.)

 - Health Meter Bar bug fixed

 - Sync'ing bugs fixed

 - MP3 bugs fixed

 - Default Joypad configuration maps to DPAD as well as A/B/X/Y

 - Keyboard support

 - OGG support

 - You can remap the Joypad configuration if you have a USB keyboard.
   If you do not have a USB keyboard, do *not* select the option to remap
   input controls.  If you do, you will not be able to do anything (since only
   the keyboard is read on that screen) and you will be forced to reboot.


Stella, Gnuboy, SMSPlus, FCEUltra, HUGO, NeoPop, DGen, Bochs, HUGO-CD, 
FMSXBox, Bliss, WinSTon, Gens, Z26X, StepmaniaX, PCSXBox, XBoyAdvance, 
DOSXBox, AtariXLBox, MirrorMagicX, KoboX, MaelstromX, MarblesX, Vice64X,
Vice20X, VicePETX, KegsX...
what's next?


Enjoy!


-----------------------------------------------------




StepmaniaX - Stepmania for XBox - v1

http://xport.xbox-scene.com

http://www.stepmania.com/stepmania/

Months before the official DDR game comes to platform, I give you StepmaniaX!

Please note that this NFO does not contain instructions for how to use Stepmania.
If this is your first time playing with Stepmania, then I suggest you download the
Windows version first.  Consult the stepmania website noted above and read up
on the Stepmania documentation.  This StepmaniaX package will run without 
any modifications/additions, but it will only contain one sample dance song.  It is
up to you do add the songs you desire.

------------
Installation
------------

First, ensure that the StepmaniaX package you have contains lots of graphics
and MP3 files.  It has come to my attention that some very foolish people have
been stripping my original packages of necessary files.  They take out the
/MEDIA directory sometimes or they will remove BIOS files necessary for emulators
to run, etc.  If the StepmaniaX package you downloaded does not contain lots
of graphics and MP3 files, then *IT WILL NOT RUN*.  All of the files are
*necessary*.  

If your package does not contain all of the graphics/MP3 files, then I suggest 
that you download the Windows Stepmania 3.0 final file from here:

http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/stepmania/stepmania300final.exe?download

After downloading it, install it on your PC, then upload the entire Stepmania
directory to a directory on your XBox.  Now copy the XBE file into the Stepmania
directory along with the /MEDIA directory.  When you are finished, the directory
structure on your XBox should look like this:

<DIR>          Announcers
<DIR>          BGAnimations
<DIR>          Cache
<DIR>          CDTitles
<DIR>          Courses
<DIR>          Media
<DIR>          Music
<DIR>          NoteSkins
<DIR>          RandomMovies
<DIR>          Songs
     1,404,928 stepmaniax.xbe
<DIR>          Themes
<DIR>          Visualizations



Please note that as of this time StepmaniaX will only run off the HD - do not
attempt to run it from DVD/CDRW media.


-------
LOADING
-------

Simply run the XBE file.  When it starts, you will see some text messages
on the screen telling you the progress of the files it is trying to load.
When it finishes loading the song files, you will be presented with the main
StepmaniaX title screen.

----------------------------------
HOW DO I USE MY PS/PS2 DANCE MATS?
----------------------------------

Get a PS2->Xbox controller adaptor.  The one I have is called "Total Control"
from Team5 and it works great.  I'm sure any others will work just as well.

-------------
XBOX CONTROLS
-------------

Any controller plugged into any of the 4 XBox ports can perform certain actions 
while running StepmaniaX:

LANALOG/RANALOG   - Use these to adjust the screen.
DPAD U/D/L/R      - These correspond to the dance arrows and also menu scrolling
START             - Select/Start
BACK              - Cancel - hold this button down while playing to back out
BLACK/WHITE       - Only used during gameplay.  These will adjust the beat offset.
                    If you notice that the dance steps seem to be a bit before or
                    a bit after the actual music, then use these buttons to
                    make adjustments until it plays the way you want it to.
LTRIGGER/RTRIGGER - Only used during gameplay.  These will adjust the BPM value.
                    If you notice that the dance steps start off OK, but 
                    gradually drift more and more out of whack, then you should
                    use these buttons to adjust the BPM value until it plays the
                    way you want it to.

------------
RESTRICTIONS
------------

The following restrictions may or may not be removed in a future release :

Does not support OGG files.  Only use MP3 files.
Does not support AVI/MPG or any other kind of movie file.
Can only run from the XBox hard drive.
Can not use the Song Edit screens

---------------
TROUBLESHOOTING
---------------

Q: It used to work, but now I just get a blank screen.  What happened?
A: The stepmania.ini file was probably changed.  Delete it and restart.

Q: I have a PAL XBox and it doesn't seem to work.
A: Make sure widescreen and/or progressive settings are off.  
   Try both PAL/50 and PAL/60.

Stella, Gnuboy, SMSPlus, FCEUltra, HUGO, NeoPop, DGen, Bochs, HUGO-CD, FMSXBox,
Bliss, WinSTon, Gens, Z26, StepmaniaX....what's next?


Enjoy!
